Abstract: The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the state of the hunting and fishing industry in the Yakut ASSR in 1971, which marked the initial stage of the ninth five-year plan. Systemic structural and economic imbalances are identified, expressed in significant differentiation in the efficiency of various departmental systems. The dominant role of state farms under the Ministry of Agriculture contrasts with the low productivity of the consumer cooperative system and new state hunting enterprises. Special attention is given to the analysis of the territorial organization of hunting, demographic problems in the sector, the state of resource bases, and infrastructural limitations. Critical conditions of moose populations and a deep depression in the resources of forest and waterfowl are identified, as well as the increasing number of wolves that cause significant economic damage to livestock farming. The incompleteness of the process of institutional consolidation of hunting grounds and geographic differentiation in the effectiveness of protective oversight activities are noted. The materials of the article serve as a valuable source for studying the economy of natural resource use in the extreme natural-climatic conditions of the North during the period of developed socialism. The methodological basis of the research is built on the principles of historicism, systematicity, and scientific objectivity. A combination of general scientific and specialized historical methods was applied to address the tasks set. The main conclusions of the conducted research indicate that the territorial organization of the hunting industry reflected the extensive nature of the development of northern territories. Furthermore, socio-demographic indicators showed a deep personnel crisis: the failure to meet the plan for attracting hunters and the catastrophic situation with the training of young successors indicated a progressing aging of the hunting community and the risk of losing traditional hunting skills. Environmental monitoring also recorded the critical state of moose populations and a deep depression in the resources of forest and waterfowl, alongside relative stability in the populations of sable, elk, and reindeer. The increase in the wolf population caused significant damage to livestock, amounting to 493 thousand rubles annually. Additional damage was inflicted by infrastructural limitations, manifested in the transport inaccessibility of hunting grounds and the absence of primary processing points, leading to significant losses in production. Thus, by the 1970s, the hunting and fishing activities in Yakutia retained an extensive character with a pronounced dependence on natural cycles, necessitating a transition to intensification through strengthening the material and technical base, developing infrastructure, and addressing personnel issues.

Abstract: One of the most important global problems of the XXI century is climate change. Every year, in some parts of the world, a decrease in annual precipitation and temperature is recorded, in others, on the contrary, an increase. These fluctuations can cause droughts, floods and degradation of permafrost soils. Further climate change may cause irreparable damage to traditional farming methods and adversely affect housing conditions in many regions of the globe. Thus, climate change can complicate and disrupt the established order of life and activity of the population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). This paper highlights a problem that has not been specifically studied before, and which concerns all hunters of the republic, the impact of climate change on hunting activities. The work is based on field materials collected by Vilyuysky and Tattinsky districts. Field materials were collected by audio, photo and video recording, in-depth interviewing and included observation during field work in the Vilyuysky and Tattinsky districts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In earlier scientific works research was conducted separately on the topic of the impact of climate change on the daily life and economic activities of the Yakuts, in this work hunting activity was considered. Hunters who participated in the research adapt to the changing climate in various ways: they increase the range of hunting area, equip trips over longer distances than before, learn to re-read changes in weather conditions, manufacture and use various devices for hunting and storage. The main conclusions of the research are that climatic changes directly or indirectly affect hunting activities in the studied areas: ordinary amateur hunters note that the habitat of animals is changing, roads are being destroyed, the soil of hunting grounds is degrading, there is a danger of the spread of various diseases.

Abstract: This article presents the results of a study of the bear image in the Yakut hunting culture and the Yakut bear holiday "kurum". The aim is to identify the bear holiday among Yakuts. The cult of bear veneration can be traced in many peoples of Siberia, but until later it was believed that Yakuts had no bear holiday, only in the 19th century R. K. Maak recorded a bear holiday among Yakuts and Tungus population in the Vilyuysk district of Yakutia. The bear festival can also be traced among the Tungus population in the Vilyui district, where they lived closely with the local Yakuts and entered into various ties, which most likely caused the Yakuts to adopt some Tungus traditions. The source base of the work is ethnographic materials of researchers of the XIX-XX centuries, as well as previously unpublished field materials collected in Suntarsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The main conclusion of the study is that the Tungus population of the Vilyui district, who had a fairly well-developed bear cult, took an active part in the formation of the bear ritual "kurum" among the Vilyui Yakuts. In the central and northern regions of Yakutia, the "kurum" festival as a bear ritual is not mentioned, in other words, it was not widespread, although the term itself is found in the Yakut lexicon and means a wedding feast.

Abstract: This article examines the questions pertaining to economic activity of the Yakuts in the conditions of climate change and “deficit of cold temperatures. Such aspects of agricultural activity as horse breeding, animal husbandry, hunting, and horticulture. An attempt is made to assess the scale of influence of changing climate upon the traditional life and industries of horse breeders, animal farmers, and hunters of the rural areas of Sakha Republic (Yakutia), as well as examine which difficulties they face and how they respond to the challenges of modernity. The acquired field materials are collected through the methods of overt observation, in-depth interview, audio, photo and video records. The attention is focused on the rural population who show concern over the situation of their households under such fast-paced circumstances: they do not know what to expect from nature next year, and many of them are not capable of handling the emerged problems. The main conclusions consist in revelation of certain problems in the life of rural population in the territories of Sakha Republic that emerge due to the climatic changes.

Abstract: This article raises the question of current socio-cultural processes, namely transformation of the traditional culture of Yakuts. This process captures all areas of daily life – from chores to leisure and festive activities. Practically all aspects of human life are subjected to transformation; however, the field observations demonstrated that in the Central and Western parts of Sakha Republic remains an “islet”, which is not overly affected by the transformation – the hunting. The article explores the questions regarding hunting activity of the Yakuts based on the ethnographic and field materials, accumulate in the territories of Olyokminsk, Vilyuysky, Verkhnevilyuysky and Nyurbniksky districts of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The study provides an ethnographic review of hunting methods, as well as certain rituals and pretenses associates with hunting activity in Yakutia. The authors also give characteristics to the changes in the traditional industry, as well as the attitude of modern hunters to their activity.